“He’s not an important one,” James whispered conspiratorially, flashing me a wink.
I giggled again as Charles shook my hand, jutting his chin up in disdain at his friend’s teasing. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Delilah. As for this one, you ought to pay him no mind whatsoever. James has never been able to get over the fact that he is one of our only classmates who lacks royal blood.”
“That’s right.” James threw back his head and let out a laugh that sparkled even more effervescently than the champagne in my hand. Somehow, he appeared more majestic than the prissy duke, even with his tousled hair, casual loafers, and artfully faded jeans. “For all these years, I’ve craved nothing more than to be part of your incestuous little genepool, good Chuck.”
“Do not call me Chuck. You sound like a wannabe yank!” Charles said, his eyes glittering with a wicked grin. “Nevertheless, you’ve been known to dip into it every now and again.”
Huh? Dip into what...or who?
In an instant, my playful, caught-in-a-dream mood vanished. My spine stiffened involuntarily as James’s smile melted slowly from his face.
To James’s credit, even Charles seemed to realize he’d crossed the line, because a flush of embarrassment reddened his cheeks as soon as the ill-timed joke left his lips, and he bowed his head and was quick to make amends. “Sorry,” he backtracked swiftly. “I certainly do not mean to imply that James is a fanny rat for royals,” he clarified. “It is just that the women...”
Charles trailed off as James snapped his eyes shut. “You’re not helping, Charlie,” he said.
I didn’t want to laugh, but I had to stifle a little grin when I saw him blushing and felt him give my hand a squeeze.
“Right. Sorry. I just... Well, everyone seems excited to see you on our fair isle again.” Charles looked up hesitantly as he offered his welcome, his eyes seeking silent forgiveness. “Maybe now, the wheels will begin to turn again,” he said with a new surge of excitement, picking up momentum with every word. “If you are not suffering too much from jetlag, won’t you please join me at the estate tonight? It will be just like old times! I’ll call in all the usual suspects, and we can—”
“Not tonight.” James slipped his arm casually around my waist. “Busy.”
Busy? Busy doing what?
Judging by the dumbfounded look on Charles’s face, it seemed the royal duke had never been turned down before, or at least he’d never known James Cross to blow off a party. I felt suddenly lucky, for it seemed he thought I was an acceptable excuse.
“Right. Of course.” Charles glanced nervously over his shoulder at the crowd of well-dressed people still sitting at his table, all of whom were waiting for a response, since they’d sent Charles over there in the first place. “At any rate, it’s your first night back. I suppose we should let you get settled.”
James inclined his head graciously, giving him a reassuring smile. “Later this week. I’ll call.”
Charles brightened somewhat at that promise and backed away with a wave. By the time he turned to face his companions again, he was sporting a smug smirk, feeling a bit accomplished since he was the first to officially greet the notorious, long-lost James Cross.
And speaking of that... I glanced up at James out of the corner of my eye, a little smile playing around my lips. His first night back, huh? No, not hardly. Not by a long shot.
His refusal to return my gaze was like some internal alarm went off, a silent warning to move quickly forward, lest the past might drag him down. “Well, shall we?”
“Sure,” I said lightly, taking his arm, my grin broadening, “before the rest of your fan club decides to
attack.”
Chapter 7
AT FIRST, I DIDN’T understand. We had driven across town to dine at the famous Dorchester, to devour a delightful meal in the domed room, to feast on the finest cuisine among England’s finest. I had no clue why he was suddenly so intent on leaving.
“Are you taking me up to the roof again?” I asked, eyeing our surroundings with increasing confusion as we climbed yet another set of stairs. It seemed forever since we left the other patrons behind to embark on some strange journey meant for just the two of us. “You were worried I might accuse you of being fork-phobic, but now I’m beginning to think you can only eat outside.”
James laughed quietly, shooting an appreciative glance from the corner of his eye, an odd but endearing glance he often gave me. He seemed to be used to the burden of being expected to be the funny, charming, happy one all the time, but when I stepped in to take up the reins, part of him visibly relaxed. “Not outside,” he corrected cryptically. “Upside.”
“Upside?” I stared in surprise a small spattering of stars that were already peppering the twilight cosmos. “Weren’t we already on the top story? I can’t believe there are floors above this.”
James took my hand as he pushed open the final door. “Della, you should know by now that not even the sky is the limit. You can always, always find a way to go...higher, if you only try.”
My entire face lightened with surprise as we stepped into a little domed room all our own, an exact replica of the one downstairs. The ceiling was high and arched, and ivy and exquisite flowers dripped down the walls. Nestled right in the center was an adorable, tiny table for two. The only difference from the area we’d just left was that the ceiling here was glass, giving us a full view of the sky, a stunning view reserved for just the two of us.
“Would you care to sit, mademoiselle?”
When I was finally able to pull my gaze away from the sky, I saw James holding a chair out for me, obviously pleased with himself for his ridiculously horrible French accent. All that was missing was the cartoon mustache and a baguette sword; with those, he would have been the perfect parody. “Why thank you, kind sir,” I responded in a Southern drawl. “Don’t mind if I do.”
He laughed again and helped me settle in the chair before circling around to his own. His eyes were still dancing when they met mine across the table. “I do love those accents of yours,” he said abruptly. “First English, now that, like some fine Southern belle.”